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PARALLELS BETWEEN CHAVEZ AND ALLENDE The turmoil in Venezuela culminating in the ouster of President Hugo Chavez on April 12 and his reinstallation as head of state three days later was reminiscent of events in Chile in 1973. There the CIA fomented protests and helped finance a national truckers strike that led to the overthrow and killing of the democratically elected President, Dr. Salvador Allende on Sept. 11, 1973. Allende had been elected president of Chile three years earlier. His leftist views were strongly opposed by the US and the increase in Chile's copper prices generated strong opposition from international corporations. Chavez similarly is strongly disliked by the US for his populist policies, including his successful efforts to boost the price of oil (Venezuela is the world's fourth largest oil producer, yet 80 per cent of its people live in poverty while the rich increase their wealth). Chavez has greatly improved health care and education for the poor and is on good terms with Cuba's Fidel Castro whom he supplies with oil at discount prices. Chavez further antagonized the US for criticizing its massive bombing campaigns in Afghanistan. Time will show that the US played a key organizational and financial role in the demonstrations and opposition against President Chavez which, of course, it denies right now, but will have to admit later just as it denied involvement in the overthrow of President Allende, but was later forced to admit that as well. The US which claims to be the world's chief proponent of democracy opposes that very political system when it produces someone who refuses to kowtow to US corporate and government interests. History shows the US has a clear preference for rightwing dictatorships over leftwing democratic governments. In 1953 Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadeq of Iran (another major oil producer) was toppled by the US and Britain for nationalizing Iran's oil industry This was followed by the tyrannical dictatorship of the Shah. In 1954 the US supported a military coup which overthrew leftwing President Jacobo Arbenz in Guatemala thus paving the way for a succession of murderous righwing dictatorships which received extensive US support.. The US has a long history of toppling governments and installing new ones. In 1903 the US organized and financed public demonstrations in Panama (then a province of Colombia) demanding independence which at gunpoint by the US navy was granted. Within days Panama was recognized as a sovereign nation by the US and a treaty allowing the Panama Canal to be constructed by the US was signed shortly thereafter. One day after Chavez' ouster, business leader Carmona was appointed the new president with the support of the US. The first thing he did was close the nation's legislative assembly and the supreme court. This generated strong opposition from many Venezuelan politicans and even many of the military. He lasted about 24 hours after which Chavez' vice-president was elevated to the top post and helped pave the way for the return of Chavez. For a detailed report about the CIA and the politics of oil go to: http://vancouver.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=11488&group=webcast